Keep up with the latest news and product updates from Whorled Domination!, and be entertained by the funny bunny antics of Aspen, the rescue rabbit :)

GNU Terry Pratchett

GNU Terry Pratchett

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Farewell, Mr. D, and hello Mr. Strauch.

Sad news this week - on Monday morning when I went to check on the bunnies, I found Mr. D lying in the pen looking like he was sleeping. But when he didn't move at the sound of the door opening, I realised we had lost him, for no discernible reason :( I had checked on the bunnies before I went to bed only 6 hours before, and Mr. D had been his usual cheeky self, bouncing around and putting his little paws up on the wire of the pen to ask me where his treat was (he knew that I would give the bunnies a treat every night when I checked them on my way to bed). So it was quite a shock and very upsetting to find him dead, with no clue as to what happened - he just looked as if he had sprawled on the floor in his usual corner and was having a snooze :(

We may have only had Mr. D with us for a very short time (about 6 weeks in all) but he was certainly a real character - he was so timid when he came to live with us with Isobella, his bonded companion, that he would run and hide under the hutch every time anyone entered the bunny room! But he got used to us and was a real little trickster, so cheeky - he was quite a small bunny so would hide somewhere near where I was walking in the bunny room and jump out onto my feet, and when I jumped in surprise he'd look at me like "what's the matter with you? I didn't do anything, nuh-uh, I'm an innocent little bunneh!" For such a little bun, he had a very big attitude (but also a very loving one, he was very affectionate and would always come up and give me nosebumps, if he couldn't reach my hands or my face he would bump my foot and give me kisses!)

So in honour of Mr. D, I have dyed some fibre this week in a spectacular rainbow of 18 shades, and called it "Rainbow Bridge". Here's the test dye I did, drying:

I have been busy this week dyeing some fibre and yarn for everyone - but before I show you all the lovely new additions to the Whorled Domination! range, I want to just remind everyone that the spindle club signups close on Monday the 5th of December - so there are only a couple of days left if you haven't already signed up or paid. All those who signed up but haven't paid yet have been issued with a reminder, and once the signups close I will be taking names for the wait list for the next club instalment for anyone who missed out.

In addition to the dyeing I have been doing, my lovely parcel guy was kind enough to deliver this to my door on Thursday morning:

This is a Strauch Model 405 "Finest" drum carder - a very handy piece of equipment that means I can now make beautiful fluffy fibre pillows out of all the angora and other stuff I have here, and you, my readers, will all benefit from it! I want to say a HUGE thankyou to all of you who have purchased from me this year, as your support is what has made this purchase possible so that I can further my plans for Whorled Domination! (hee hee! ;) ) I haven't had a chance to play with it much yet as I have been very busy with all the dyeing I have been doing, but give me a few weeks to play catch-up and I'm pretty sure I will get some nice alone time with my new toy ;)

This week's update is a mammoth one - so without further ado, here it is:

This week I am excited to be able to offer you 24 micron merino braids in the following colourways, 100g for $15.00 plus postage. These colourways will be the start of the regular Whorled Domination range, so if you miss out, more will be available or I can do a custom quantity to order. Please be aware that I have limited quantities in stock, so you may have to wait a few days for me to dye a colourway for you if I run out of stock (if this is the case you will be notified when I receive your order):

This picture is a very accurate representation of all the colours below (some of them are surprisingly difficult to capture true on camera when up close!), so if in doubt, check above to make sure you can see the colour properly:

4ply 100% superwash merino sock yarn, 440m/100g per skein, in semi-solid colours, $22.00 plus shipping. All of these 10 colourways (and more coming soon!) will be available on a regular basis and I can dye custom quantities on request, and on any weight yarn. I have very limited numbers currently in stock, but am happy to take orders for custom dye lots of any of these colours:

Over the coming weeks I will be adding more colourways to both the fibre and yarn ranges (the fibre colourways will also be available on yarn soon!), so keep an eye out for the ever-expanding regular colourway range, and some other big news to start the new year with ;)

Spindles

Ultralight spindles - these little babies weigh a tiny 5g with a pine shaft or 7g with a Tasmanian oak one, and come in the colours you see pictured, with a hand-bent pigtail style hook. 6 inch long shaft, finished with a light coat of wax, the whorls are 1 inch in diameter and stained with vegetable dyes. Perfect for laceweight yarns or spinning on the go, these babies are $5 each plus shipping ($2 on their own, or no extra cost with other items). Please let me know when you order, what colour you would like and whether you would like a pine or Tasmanian oak shaft.

Pocket spindles - these are the big sister of the ultralights, the whorls are 1 1/2in diameter and come in natural beech, or maple, cedar or mahogany stain, with either a pine or Tasmanian Oak shaft. Pine shaft pocket spindles weigh in at 12g, Tasmanian Oak at 13g. The spindle pictured above has a mahogany stained whorl and a pine shaft, both finished with carnauba wax. Hand-bent pigtail style hook. $7 plus shipping ($2 if on its own, no extra cost if shipped with other items). Please let me know when you order what finish you would like on your whorl and which shaft you would prefer.

"Ballerina" organic art tea - premium organic white tea with jasmine flowers and globe amaranth. Stunning to look at and has a beautiful delicate flavour, very refreshing! $3.50 per ball or 3 for $10.00 (larger quantities available on request by special order). One ball makes 6-10 cups, and you can top the jug up with more hot water to extend the infusion :)

"Lavender Bliss" organic art tea - premium organic green tea with lavender and jasmine blossoms. Just the right amount of lavender, delicate and delicious! $3.00 per ball, or 3 for $8.50 (larger quantities available on request by special order).

"Queen Jasmine" organic art tea - fitting name for this beautiful rare Silver Needle white tea topped with a hand-sewn crown of jasmine flowers and a lily petal. Light and delicate flavour, a very refreshing tea. $3.50 per ball, or 3 for $10.00 (larger quantities available on request by special order).

Tea hearts - rose petals and black tea, wrapped in pink foil. Makes 2-4 cups per heart. 75c per heart, or 3 for $2.00 (larger quantities available on request by special order). Also available as a combination pack of 2 hearts Rose Black tea and 2 of Jasmine Green tea for $3.00.

Tea hearts -green tea with jasmine blossoms, wrapped in gold foil. Makes 2-4 cups per heart. 75c each, or 3 for $2.00 (larger quantities available on request by special order). Also available as a combination pack of 2 hearts Rose Black tea and 2 of Jasmine Green tea for $3.00.

Tea Sampler: contains one ball of each of the 4 art teas, a 5gm (1-2 cup) sachet of each of the 3 black teas, and 1 each of the hearts. Great way to try all the different teas in the Pure Tea-vil range, and would make a great gift or swap item (especially as you can easily divide the sampler up for multiple swaps). $15.00 (can be gift-wrapped on request).

Tote Bags

These are made from 100% natural cotton canvas (8oz), approximately 36 x 34cm with a 6cm gusset, and printed with the Whorled Domination! logo :) Great for taking your knitting or spinning project with you, or even for your shopping (we all hate the dreaded plastic bags, don't we?) These tote bags are available for $30.00:

Beginner Spinning Kits

These kits come in 2 styles - available with a flower spindle (great for kids) or a regular round whorl wooden spindle. They come packaged with the spindle, 50g of beautifully soft Tasmanian Corriedale fibre and instructions for how to spin :) Flower spindles have a 10 inch/25cm shaft length, and the round spindles have 8 inch/20cm shafts.

Both types of kit are available for AU$18.00 plus postage.

Specials - December

This is a new section I have decided to include that will have monthly (and sometimes weekly) special offers :) This week's special offers are:

Gift vouchers - these are available in any amount you choose from $10 upwards, and can be either mailed to you, or direct to any recipient you specify. Gift vouchers can be used to purchase any Whorled Domination! products.

For the week of December 2-8 ONLY, purchase one spindle, skein of yarn or braid of fibre, and receive a 20% discount on a second one of equal or lesser value! Why not grab one for a friend as a Christmas gift? If you wish to purchase 2 different items, the discount will apply as long as the discounted item is of equal or lesser value to the first item purchased.

Order a tote bag and one braid of fibre or skein of yarn, and receive a tea sampler valued at $15.00 absolutely free! This offer is only available from December 2-15, so get in quick!